Attention Project

Overview

Sometimes our attention is guided by salient features of the environment, as bright objects or loud noises grab our attention automatically. Other times, we intentionally guide our attention toward whatever is relevant to our goals. What parts of the brain mediate these different forms of attention?

Concentration difficulties are a diagnostic criterion for both depression and anxiety, and are associated with poorer quality of life and poorer prognoses. In spite of this, we know relatively little about the specific types of attention that are impaired and their neural underpinnings.​

Our Mission

Our goal is to figure out what types of attention become impaired in depression and anxiety, and to uncover the neural mechanisms that produce these deficits.

Ultimately, we intend to leverage this knowledge to help us guide individuals who experience changes in their ability to pay attention toward more targeted treatments for this particular symptom.

The Attention Team

Bailey Holt-Gosselin

Lab Manager, Clinical Operations

Arielle S. Keller, M.S.

Neurosciences Doctoral Candidate

Melissa Shiner

Neuroimaging Research Coordinator

Description

Ruth Ling

Research Assistant

Description

Our Methods

Sign up to Participate

The Attention study is currently an optional follow-up session available only to those who have already participated in our Connectome study.

If you are interested in participating in the Attention study and have not already enrolled in the Connectome study, please visit our page with more information about the Connectome study and how to get involved:

Following your participation in the Connectome study, we will reach out regarding your interest in the Attention Project follow-up.